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An Introduction to the World of Contracting

Part 2

Jerry Erickson

You need an effective resume...

If this kind of work (contracting) intrigues you, or you see it as a opportunity to find that dream job you have always been seeking...you'll need to prepare a professional resume. Your resume is generally the first contact you have with a contract staffing firm and, often, the only contact with a client company until your first day on an assignment. So you must have an effective resume.

And, because most contract firms now scan, or in some manner, input all their resumes into a searchable database...your resume needs to be presented in a manner that makes it easy to scan. Because of that, new resume preparation guidelines are required that will enable firms to scan your resume.

A few recommendations to help to make your resume "scanner friendly:"

Use white paper and black ink.

Don't underline words.

Don't use script or other fancy typefaces.

All letters should be of the same quality (no light or broken letters, no smudgy or filled-in letters, etc.).

Don't hand write anything on your resume.

If you're using a dot matrix or inkjet printer, utilize the best quality of type the printer provides (i.e. letter quality, dark copy, etc.).

Avoid boxes or unusual configurations.

Don't use columns

There are numerous excellent resume formats you can use. I'm going to talk about just one ... but one with which our subscribers have found continued success. If you use this format and the guidelines we suggest, I can't guarantee you'll land a job. But, if you do adhere to this format, I can assure you that your chances of getting a contract assignment will have definitely improved!

Things you should do with your resume:

Use 8-1/2" x 11" paper.

Use 10 or 12 point type size

Keep your page margins to a minimum of 1/2" or more (1" is best, 3/4" is also preferred to 1/2")

Make your resume as legible as possible, using a non-serif type font (it is easier to scan).

Include a permanent contact, present address and phone number, and an email address (if you have one) near the top of the first page of your resume. That will enable firms to contact you even after you have moved from your present address.

Include your job discipline(s)...near your name at the top of page one of your resume and a job title for each assignment.

Include a summary paragraph near the top of your resume.

Include pertinent education and/or training.

List jobs in reverse chronological order (most current first).

Include only necessary personal information

Type "Under contract to" for any contract assignments you may have had.

Include total number of year's experience.

Give security status, if any. If your security clearance has expired, include the date of expiration.

Write job descriptions in easy-to-understand terms. Be brief but be as complete as practical.

Include your name and page number on each page of a multiple page resume (except no number on first page).

Things you should not do with your resume:

Don't include personal references or hobbies.

Don't include your Social Security Number.

Cover sheets are not necessary for contract resumes, unless there is something you want to explain to a potential employer that does not appear on your resume (example: Even though I don't live on the West Coast, and have never lived there, I want to secure employment there to be near my ill parents.)

Don't use a "Job Objective." This is normally found on a resume for someone who is seeking a "direct" position. A "Job Objective" tells the firms what you want from them whereas a "Summary" tells what you can do for them.

Don't exaggerate your experience.

Don't show salary or pay information.

Don't offer explanations for leaving prior employers.

Don't use your photograph.

Don't use abbreviations (except those that are acceptable in the engineering/technical fields, such as IBM, DBA, CAD, E/M, etc.).

Tips to help you shorten a lengthy resume:

Have it typed by a professional typesetter.

Eliminate all extra spaces between lines (except between job assignments).

Use narrower margins (but not less than 1/2 inch).

Keep job descriptions to 3-5 sentences (older positions may be even shorter).

If your "length" problem is due to an extensive number of job assignments, leave the oldest positions off and type the following at the bottom of the last page of your resume: "Prior experience available upon request." Then prepare a "complete" resume to furnish only to firms asking for it.

The Internet is a great place to start your job search…

By now, you are hopefully asking yourself, "How do I know what contract staffing firms would offer the best chance of placing you on an assignment?" There are many methods of selecting firms to which you should submit resumes.

I am sure that you are aware of the fact that the Internet has invaded almost every aspect of our daily life. And, nowhere is that more evident than in the search for employment. There are literally thousands of websites where you can review the job opportunities offered by tens of thousands of employers. And there are thousands of websites where you can post your resume to be made available to recruiters. Most companies, including contract staffing firms, have their own websites where they post job openings. The options are endless!

You could spend all your waking hours every day surfing the Internet, with little or no positive results. The secret is knowing where to look. Which websites will truly help you find the job that you want? Instead of spending hours "spinning your wheels"...narrow your options. Find websites that have the most jobs posted that fit your specific discipline and requirements.

If you want to work only in the Midwest, find sites that specialize in midwest opportunities. If IT is your field, find sites that have lots of IT jobs posted. If you want a contract position...seek out websites that allow you to isolate their contract postings. Some of the major websites (such as Monster Board and Yahoo) now allow you to search their databases for only contract positions. C.E. Weekly also offers that service on its website.

And, find websites that provide services that will make your job search easier...such as a resume database that is searched by recruiters seeking people who do what you do...will they email you new job postings that match your job description?...or offer you other job-seeking services?

After you have sent your resume to the Contract Staffing Firms…

Once you have mailed or emailed your resume to the contract staffing firms, you now approach the next phase of becoming a contract employee. Some firms will acknowledge receipt of your resume by mailing or emailing you an acknowledgment. Most will not, simply because of the cost involved with acknowledging the hundreds of resumes received every week.

If you are lucky, a firm will immediately give you a call to ask if you would be interested in a particular assignment. Sometimes, they will send a letter asking you to call them immediately about a job. Many times, however, it is not quite that easy. Because contract firms receive so many resumes every week, and because many firms have comprehensive resume retrieval systems which usually require scanning, coding, input, and even filing of resumes, a contract firm with a job opening in your classification might be delayed in matching you with their assignment.

You can, however, make sure that your resume is "brought to their attention" by calling them (many have a toll free phone number). Your phone call will probably cause them to pull your resume from their computers or files and review it against their current job openings. If you are not able to talk to a recruiter they will, hopefully, get back to you later about a possible assignment. Whether they contact you immediately upon receipt of your resume, or at a later date, they should always get your permission prior to submitting your resume to a potential employer.

Of course, jobs in the contract industry fluctuate with the economy, just as all others do. And there are times when contract requirements are cancelled due to any of a number of reasons...such as loss of funding on a project, management decisions, or the availability of captive personnel to fill the client's need. Once a contract firm has offered you an assignment, and you have accepted, it is best if you ask them to send you a confirming fax, telegram, email, or even a letter, if there is time for it to reach you before you must leave for the job.

In the confirmation, ask them to verify your job title, client company, hourly rate for straight time and overtime, to whom you should report on your first day at work, a starting date and time, the amount of per diem and travel pay (if any and when it is paid), and expected duration. Time permitting, you should have your signed contract in hand before you leave home.

A brief word about the duration of a contract assignment: The moment that you reasonably expect your job to last one year or longer, whether that happens on day one or day 363 of your assignment, that job is considered to be "indefinite" by the IRS.

When you are working on an indefinite assignment, the IRS considers your tax home to be the assignment location and per diem is not deductible! So, if deducting the cost of living and working away from your tax home is important to you...keep a close eye on the expected length of your assignment.

Most contractors prefer that their contracts state that the length of the assignment is either "temporary" or a specific length of time shorter than one year. Many are written in either three or six month durations. If, at the end of the specified time, the contractor's services are still needed... the contract may be "extended" for another set length. Keep in mind, however, and this is important to the new contractor...most contract assignments can be terminated (or extended) at any time by the client company. A six month assignment might end up lasting six weeks or six years. And, that determination is usually at the discretion of the client company.

Once you are working on a contract assignment…

As soon as you are working on a new assignment, you should begin preparing yourself for your next job. Your resume will need to be updated (reflecting your new job assignment) and copies printed. This may seem a bit premature, but it is the best policy. Then, when your present job is approaching an end or, worse yet, ends without notice, you will be prepared to pursue your next assignment.

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